Vibrating toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones that substantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrations transmitted to the handle without sacrificing structural integrity around the vibration-isolation zones. Such zones may generally comprise neck material that is reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by dampening material, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids. The vibration-isolating zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratory element to maintain the structural integrity around the zones and to thereby alleviate weakness conditions that might subject the toothbrush to fatigue and breakage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/481,229, filed on Apr. 6, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,004,581, whichis a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/289,801, filed onMay 29, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,649,181, which is a divisional of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/706,282, filed on Dec. 5, 2012, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,739,344, which is a divisional of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/004,565 filed on Jan. 11, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,327,489,which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/460,158, filed on Jul. 26, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,886,393, whichclaims the benefit of priority of U.S. Patent Application No.60/702,474, filed Jul. 26, 2005. The entire contents of each of theforegoing applications are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present application relates to a vibrating toothbrush generally, andmore particularly to a toothbrush having vibrations that are isolated inthe head and having reduced transmissions to the handle.

BACKGROUND

Power toothbrushes generally comprise a power source, a motor and apowered element that is driven by the motor. In one type of powertoothbrush, a power toothbrush head is provided with movable cleaningelements that are usually driven laterally, rotationally or in anoscillating manner by a motor located in the handle. The motor generatesa vibration that is absorbed directly by the hands of the user. However,such vibration is effectively a byproduct of the motor operation and isusually not intended to enhance the effectiveness of the movablecleaning elements. Instead, the vibration provides a tactile sensationto the user and generally creates a perceived feeling of increasedcleaning effectiveness.

Another type of power toothbrush relies primarily on vibrations toproduce a cleaning operation. These are normally referred to as“sonic”-type brushes because the vibrations generated to achieve a highcleaning efficacy are generally of a frequency of 20-20,000 Hz that canbe perceived by the human ear as a “buzz.” However, the combination ofthis sonic noise and the high-frequency vibration felt on one's teethcreate a tactile sensation of highly increased effectiveness. To achievethe greatest cleaning, it is preferable to situate thevibration-generation device as close to the toothbrush head as possibleso as to focus the vibratory energy near the site of greatest cleaning,and not along the handle.

In some prior art sonic-type brushes, elastomeric regions are providedbetween the motor and the handle to dampen the vibrations felt in thehandle. However, such regions tend to decrease the structural strengthof the neck and create localized weaknesses in the neck material thatcould subject the toothbrush to breakage or cause the toothbrush to failcyclic fatigue tests. Dampening regions are also noticed in othervibrating-type toothbrushes near the junction of the neck and thehandle, usually in the form of an elastomeric section or sections ofvarying configurations. However, again, such sections create structuralweaknesses at a location that usually receives a significant amount ofstress during use.

There is a need, therefore, to provide a vibration-powered toothbrushhaving cleaning vibrations that are directed toward or isolated in thehead region and reduced in the handle region, and that do not createweakened areas that subject the toothbrush to breakage and cyclicfatigue.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones thatsubstantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrationstransmitted to the handle, without sacrificing structural integrity.Such vibration-isolating zones may generally comprise neck material thatis reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by elastic or dampeningmaterial, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids.Such zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratoryelement to maintain the structural integrity around the zones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a toothbrush of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are sides views of alternative embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The vibrating toothbrush of FIGS. 1-4 generally comprises a handle 1, acleaning head 2 usually having cleaning elements 12, and a neck 3disposed between the head 2 and the handle 1. While the cleaning head 2illustrates bristles 12, other cleaning elements of various size,cross-section, material, etc., such as rubber elements, elastomericelements, polishing elements, abrasive elements, floss-like cleaningelements, etc., may be used. The head 2 and neck 3 are usually formed ofa relatively stiff material, such as polypropylene (PP), although othermaterials may be used. However, such material is also relatively elasticsuch that the neck and head can vibrate during use.

The neck 3 contains a mechanical vibratory device 5 that preferablyincludes a motor 10 and a vibratory element such as an eccentric weight9 connected thereto by a shaft 11. By methods well known in the art, thevibratory device 5 can be connected to a power source such as anelectrical power source (e.g., a battery or batteries (not shown))accommodated in the handle 1 via electrical connections 8 provided inthe neck 3, and activated by a switch (not shown). Alternatively, thepower source can be located outside of the toothbrush, such as withdirect current via a wall socket connection. In addition, the neck 3 canbe formed as a unitary structure with the head 2 and handle 1 such as byinjection molding or the like, or it can be separable from the handle 1(not shown) preferably along location 4.

The mechanical vibratory device 5 produces vibrations in the head 2through rotation of the eccentric weight 9 about the shaft 11. The motor10 and eccentric weight 9 are preferably accommodated in a structuralhousing 15, which is preferably positioned in the neck 3 adjacent thehead 2. The vibrations produced occur nearest the eccentric weight 9,which is positioned closer to the head 2 than the motor 10, which iscloser to the handle 1 than the head 2. As noted above, the neck 3 ispreferably made of an elastic material which facilitates thetransmission of the vibrations from the weight 9 to the head 2. Ofcourse, the mechanical vibratory device 5 can be positioned in alocation that is not adjacent the head 2 as shown, as long as there aremeans to transmit the generated vibrations to the head 2.

In order to reduce the transmission of vibrations below the eccentricweight 9 or toward the handle 1, the neck construction is alteredadjacent or below the eccentric weight 9 to further isolate thevibrations in the head 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the cross-sectionof the neck 3 is thinned along an exterior section 20 to reduce theamount of neck material below the eccentric weight 9, which in turnreduces the capacity of the neck material to transmit vibrations to thehandle 1, and which in turn isolates a majority of the vibrations in thehead 2. Structural support for the thinned neck region 20 is provided bythe housing 15 of the mechanical vibratory device 5. In other words, thehousing 15 reinforces the neck 3 along the thinned region 20. As aresult of the thinned neck region 20, a noticeable increase in headvibration is achieved and transmission of vibrations to the handle 1 isminimized, all without sacrificing structural neck strength along thethinned neck region 20. In this embodiment, it is preferable to positionthe thinned region 20 between the weight 9 and the base 7 of the motor10, and more preferably along the housing 15, with the motor 10 and/orhousing 15 providing structural support for the reduced neck crosssection.

FIG. 2A illustrates an alternative embodiment, wherein material isremoved along an interior section 22 of the neck 3 to create one or morevoid spaces. The interior section 22 would not be visible to the casualobserver as the outer neck wall 24 would appear to be uninterrupted.While it is preferred that the interior section 22 exist as a void withthe highest vibration dampening capacity, such section may be filledwith a dampening material if desired. Again, the mechanical vibratorydevice 5 and/or housing 15 provide the structural support for the neck 3around the interior section 22.

FIG. 2B illustrates an alternative embodiment, wherein neck material isremoved along an exterior section 26 of the neck 3 to create one or morevoid spaces. Such exterior section can extend between the housing 15 andan outer wall of the neck 3. While it is preferred that the exteriorsection 26 exist as a void with the highest vibration dampeningcapacity, such section may be filled with a dampening material ifdesired. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-2B, the neck, by virtue of thesections 20, 22 or 26, is reduced in cross-section by a magnitude ofpreferably 5%-90%, and more preferably 10%-50%. This translates into asignificant reduction in the transmission of vibrations to the handle,with a significant increase in the isolation of such vibrations in thehead.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, one (FIG. 3) or more (FIG. 4) void regions 28, 30 arecreated along the sides of the neck 3 and preferably, although notnecessarily, filled with dampening material 13. The dampening material13 has a capacity to transmit vibrations that is less than thetransmission capacity of the original neck material. For example, theneck material could be formed from PP, while the one or more voidregions, which can be created by strategically removing the PP neckmaterial, can be filled with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Again, themechanical vibratory device 5 and/or housing 15 provide the structuralsupport for the neck 3 around the void regions 28, 30.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, for example, the rear of the neck wall canbe lined with a dampening material 13 such as TPE along the entire neckregion 30, while the sides and front are formed of PP. In suchembodiment, the TPE provides a dampening benefit by virtue of itsmaterial properties, but its extension beyond the boundaries of themechanical vibratory device 5 and/or housing 15 do not create avibration-isolating effect. Instead, additional PP neck portions 28 thatare removed and retained as voids or substituted with TPE, act toisolate the vibrations from the device 5 in the head 2, and furtherreduce the transmission of such vibrations to the handle 1. If filledwith TPE, these additional neck portions 28 would preferably constituteforward extensions of the dampening material 13 lining the rear of theneck wall.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, void regions 28, 30 are provided on bothsides of the neck 3 below the weight 9 and are preferably filled with amaterial 13 having a capacity to transmit vibrations that is less thanthe capacity to transmit vibrations of the original neck material. Abridge 14 of neck material is defined between the regions 28, 30, tostructurally connect head 2 to the handle 1. Again, the mechanicalvibratory device 5 and/or housing 15 provide the structural supportaround the void regions 28, 30.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oral care implement comprising: a body formedof rigid material and extending from a proximal end to a distal endalong an axis; a mechanical vibratory device located in the body andcircumferentially surrounded by the rigid material, the mechanicalvibratory device including a motor and an eccentric weight andconfigured to generate vibrations; the body having a first axial portionlocated between the motor and the proximal end, a second axial portionlocated between the motor and the distal end, and a third axial portionaxially aligned with the motor, wherein the eccentric weight is locatedin the second axial portion of the body; and the body comprising avibration-reducing section, at least a portion of the vibration-reducingsection being located on the third axial portion of the body andcomprising an elastomeric material exposed on an outer surface of thebody; wherein the rigid material of the body extends continuously fromthe proximal end to the distal end.
 2. The oral care implement accordingto claim 1 wherein the portion of the vibration-reducing section of thebody is axially aligned with the motor.
 3. The oral care implementaccording to claim 1 wherein the vibration-reducing section is formed byat least a portion of the third axial portion of the body having areduced thickness.
 4. The oral care implement according to claim 1wherein the vibration-reducing section is formed by at least a portionof the third axial portion of the body having a reduced transversecross-sectional area.
 5. The oral care implement according to claim 1wherein the body comprises: a head; a handle; and a neck disposedbetween the head and the handle.
 6. The oral care implement according toclaim 5 wherein the mechanical vibratory device is located in the neckand the vibration reducing section of the body is located along theneck.
 7. An oral care implement comprising: a body extending along alongitudinal axis, an axial portion of the body comprising a cylindricalwall constructed of a hard plastic that circumferentially surrounds thelongitudinal axis so as to form a cavity in the axial portion; avibration-generating device positioned within the cavity; and thecylindrical wall having a section of reduced thickness for reducingtransmission of vibrations in a first axial direction and an elastomericmaterial exposed on an outer surface of the body; wherein the hardplastic of the body extends continuously from a proximal end to a distalend, the proximal end and the distal end being at opposing ends of thebody along the longitudinal axis.
 8. The oral care implement accordingto claim 7, wherein the section of reduced thickness defines a void thatis filled with the elastomeric material.
 9. The oral care implementaccording to claim 7 wherein the vibration-generating device comprises amotor and an eccentric weight, and wherein the section of reducedthickness is axially aligned with the motor.
 10. An oral care implementcomprising: a body having a longitudinal axis, a first axial region ofthe body formed by a cylindrical wall constructed of a hard plastic thatcircumferentially surrounds the longitudinal axis so as to form a cavityin the first axial region, a second axial region of the body located ona first side of the first axial region and a third axial region of thebody located on a second side of the first axial region; avibration-generating device positioned within the cavity, and thecylindrical wall having a section of reduced thickness and anelastomeric material exposed on an outer surface of the cylindricalwall; wherein the hard plastic of the body extends continuously from aproximal end to a distal end, the proximal end and the distal end beingat opposing ends of the body along the longitudinal axis.
 11. Thetoothbrush in accordance with claim 10, wherein the vibration-generatingdevice further comprises a power element and a vibratory element, thevibratory element positioned closer to the second axial region of thebody than the power element, and wherein the section of reducedthickness is axially aligned with the power element.
 12. The toothbrushin accordance with claim 10, wherein the section of reduced thicknessreduces a transverse cross-section of the body by 10% to 50%.
 13. Thetoothbrush in accordance with claim 10, wherein the section of reducedthickness is formed by a depression formed into the outer surface of thecylindrical wall.